Deleting system



y 3 v R. M. HICKS ET L 2,081,377

DELETING SYSTEM Original Filed JuLy 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RAYMOND M. HICKS CHARLES 5. WHITNEY r ATTORNEYS y 1937- R. M. HICKS El AL 2,081,377

I DELETING SYSTEM Original Filed July 29,. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RAYMOND MHICKS BYCHARLES .SZWHIT/VEY M/Mdv M M ATTO RN EYS M3 c v y 1937. R. M. HICKS tr AL DELETING SYSTEM Original Filed July 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS RAYMOND M. HICKS BY CHARLES a WHITNEY waad t'lwnla M ATTORNEYS DELETING SYSTEM Original Filed Jui 29, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [NVENTORS RAYMOND M. HICKS BY CHARLES s. wumvgv Qwkkmu Ikhsu Q 5 LL w ATTORNEYS Patented May 25, 1937 UNiTED STATES DELETING SYSTEM Raymond M. Hicks, Plainfield, N. J., and Charles S. Whitney, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to The Teleregister Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 29, 1932, Serial No. 625,770 Renewed July 17, 1936 23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvementsin stock deleting systems and mechanisms.

Among the objects of this invention are provision of a method and system for dividing or segregating all or any .desired received information into groups for printing, recordin displaying, storing, retransmitting or other like purposes.

Other objects of this invention are the provision of mechanism for controlling one or more tickers to print the prices of only such stocks as are desired; the provision of mechanism for preventing the printing of the price of any stock beginning with any letter of the alphabet and which may comprise a one, two or three letter designation, one of several different issues of the stock, and preferred stock; the provision of mechanism whereby the prices of all of the stocks relatlngtomotors, oils, or the like, may be printed on the same tape by the same ticker, or bydif ferent tickers which may be arranged with respect to each other in any desired manner; and the provision of such mechanism which may be controlled directly from the ticker line and which may be located at a central information station or at a subscribersofiice, if desired, or in any other convenient place in case the same infor mation is desired by several subscribers.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a wiring diagram of one I embodiment of the invention.

The drawings show for the purposes of disclosure of this invention, onepreferred embodiment of circuits which may serve as an auxiliary to the standard high speed stock quotation ticker system, and by segregating stocks after identifying them by means of storing and classfying their letter abbreviations, may operate to permit the printing of the corresponding. prices on one or more groups of tickers, or to prevent entirely the printing of the stock price.

Ticker equipment Each ticker to be used with this deleting system is preferably equipped with a printing control magnet of the type now employed in, connection with deleting tickers as shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,814,902, granted January 31, 1930 to R. F. Dirkes. This magnet is preferably normally energized to hold a projection on a member operated by its armature interposed between the ticker printing hammer and the ticker type wheel, thus normally permitting the printing of all quotations. When the printis to be deleted, the deleting mechanism will function and result in deenergizing the printing magnet or the ticker, so that the price of the stock 7 to be deleted will not appear upon the ticker tape.

As before mentioned, more than one ticker may be associated with this deleting mechanism, and different groups of stocks may be printed or deleted from each ticker group.

Equipment units The deleting ticker system disclosed comprises the following units:

1. A polarized line relay nals;

2. A distributor for distributing the line signals of the six unit permutation code used in the ticker transmission system. This distributor may be of any conventional type, although the drawings show a commutator, (face plate), type, equipped with a second or local ring for' controlling certain circuit functions;

3. Various combinations and groups of relays to be described; and I i 4. One or more plug and jack boards for associating the printing magnets of the tickers with the stocks to be deleted.

Detailed description of circuit The drawings show a ticker circuit L incorporating the line magnets Ml, M2 and M3 of standard tickers in series with each other and with the winding of the polarized receiving line relay P of the deleting ticker circuit. A greater number of tickers might be used in series with the line relay, or if desired the ticker line magnets may be on an entirely separate line circuit from that of the line relay of the deleting mechanism.

When the equipment is initially put into operation, all relays will be normal, 1. e., unoperated, but the printing magnets on the tickers will be energized from a circuit from ground through a break contact of relay PC-i. It may be assumed that the motor for driving the distributor brushes BI and B2 is in operation, with the friction clutch slipping and the rotatable disfor receiving line sigtributor brush Bl resting on the Start segment ST. If there is no signal transmission taking place over the ticker line the normal battery condition will be held on the line; this will be a potential in a direction to hold the armature of the receiving line relay P of the deleting system against its marking contact, designated M.

Upon reception of the first character, the polarity of the line wire is first changed so that the armature of the line relay moves to the spacing contact, designated S. This closes a circuit from ground on the relay armature, through the S contact, and winding of the start magnet SM, to battery. The start magnet operates, releasing the distributor brushes which begin a rotation on the face plate. As the brushes pass segments 5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the distributor ring a, the associated solid ring I) which is connected to the M contact of the line relay will be opened or will have ground connected to it, depending upon whether or not the line relay armature is resting on the M contact, and this in turn will depend upon the code received. Assume the letter Y to be received; this letter in the standard ticker code consists of pulses one, three and five marking, and pulses two and four spacing. Pulse six is invariably spacing for letters and is marking only in the case of figures, or for special characters on the lower case half of the ticker type wheel.

As the distributor brush BI is passing segment i of the ring a, the armature of the line relay being on the M contact, ground will be connected through this contact, the solid distributor ring b, segment I of the ring a, a break contact i of relay B, to the winding of relay l of the code storage relay group CSR No. 1. This relay locks from battery through its own winding and make contact a to ground on the break contact a of relay RLI. As the brush passes segment 2 the line relay will be on its S contact, so that no circuit will be closed through the brush. When the brush is on segment 3 the line relay will be on its marking contact and a circuit will be closed, similar to that just described, which will operate relay 3 of the code storage relay group No. 1; this relay will lock to the same ground as did relay I. Similarly, the brush in passing segment 5 will operate relay 5 of the same group but neither relay 4 nor 6 will operate. After leaving segment 5 the brush will pass over a stop segment, designated SP, and again come to rest on segment ST, with the return of the line condition to marking polarity indicating the completion of the transmission of the letter Y. This letter Y has now been stored in the code storage relay group No. 1.

While the first letter was being received and stored as described above, the other brush B2 was passing over the associated local solid and segmented rings and d resulting in the following operations. While the receiving line brush was passing segments I and 2, the local brush was traveling across segments RLS of the ring d thus connecting ground from the local solid ring 0 over a break contact a of relay C to the winding of relay RL2; this relay operated, but performed no useful function at that time. While the line brush BI was passing segments 3 and i, the local brush B2 was passing over segment TR2, of the local ring (1, thus connecting ground from the local solid ring 0 to this segment but performing no useful function. While the line brush Bi was passing segments and 6, the local brush B2 was passing segment TRI, of the local segmented ring 03 thus connecting ground from the local solid ring 0 to this segment, thence through a break contact a of relay B and a winding of relay A to battery, operating relay A. The operation of relay A closes a circuit from ground through a break contact 19 of relay C, make contact a of relay A, to one end of a winding of relay B. The other end of this same winding of relay B has ground connected to it from the segment TRI of the local distributor ring over break contact a of relay B. Relay B therefore does not operate at this time. As the line brush leaves segment 6, the local brush leaves segment TRi, thereby removing the ground which had been holding a short circuit on the winding of relay B. Relay B now operates in series with relay A over a circuit as follows: Ground on break contact I) of relay C, make contact a of relay A, winding of relay B, winding of relay A, to battery. The operation of relay l3 closes a circuit from ground on its make contact I), through the winding of relay C to battery, thus operating relay C. Theoperation of relay C removes the ground which had operated relay B in series with relay A as described above; however, the same ground on the contact I) of relay B which has operated relay C also passes through the make contact I) and winding of relay A and a winding of relay B to battery so that all three relays A, B and C remain operated.

When the line brush BI is passing over segments SP and ST, the local brush B2 is passing over segment MARK of the local segmented ring (1 thus connecting ground to it from the local solid ring 0 and thence through an operated make contact 0 of relay A, normal contact I) of relay 6 of code storage relay group No. l, to an armature b of each of the other relays of the same group. It has been assumed that the letter Y was received and stored in this group, so that relays l, 3 and 5 will be operated; a path will, therefore, be closed through a make contact b of each of these three relays, thence through normal break contacts i, 3 and 5 of relay E, and normal contacts a of relay C2, Fig, 2, to relays i, 3 and 5 of the first letter register relay group, Fig. 3, which latter relays will look over the common locking lead i3, Figs. 3, 2 and 1, for the group to ground on the break contact a of relay SH. Because of the large number of contacts required on relay 5 of the letter register relay groups, two relays in parallel 5 and 5a are used. They function in each letter register relay group, as a single relay. The same ground through the MARK segment of the local ring operates relay SHR, Fig. 1, which performs no useful function at this time.

When the second letter is received, a similar 4 sequence of events again occurs, with the exception that, since relays A, B and C are now operated, the pulses comprising this second letter will be routed into code storage relay group CSR No. 2, instead of into group No. 1 as was the case of the first letter, and relays will be operated in group No. 2 corresponding to the marking pulses of the code for the letter received, in a manner similar to the corresponding reception and storage of the preceding letter in group No. l as described.

During the reception and storage of the second letter, the local brush B2 will again pass over the local rings, and will cause the following operations to take place. When the local brush is passing over segment RLS, ground will be connected from the local solid ring, through segment RLS, through a make contact (1 of relay A, line H, through a break contact 0 of relay BK, Fig. 2, through a normal contact I) of relay C-2, and

, ring is also connected at this time through the.

through the winding of relay C-l, to battery causing relay -1 to. operate. Ground on a break contact b of relay SH, Fig. 1, over line l2, through a make contact a on. relay 0-! to one end of the winding of relay C2 will hold a short circuit on the winding of relay C2 preventing its operation. Ground through the RLS segment of the local make contact a of relay C to the winding of relay RL-l which operates and removes the locking ground from all the relays of code storage relay group No. l, and such of these relays as had been operated during the reception of the preceding letter now release.

As the local brush B2 leaves'segment RLS, relay C2 operates in series with relay C--2. The

circuit is as follows: From battery, winding of V relay C-|, winding of relay C2,make contact a of relay C-l, normal contact I; of relay SH, to

ground. The operation of relay C2 transfers leads designated I, 2, 3, d and 5 associated with the armatures of relay E from the relays of the first letter register relay group to the corresponding relays of the second letter register relay group, Fig. 3, through break contacts a of relay C l.

When the local brush is passing over segment TRZ, during this second rotation, ground is connected to this segment from the local solid ring, thence through break contact a of relay E, make contact 0 of relay C, and winding of relay D to battery, operating relay D. The operation of relay D closes a circuit from ground, through a break contact a of relay F and make contact a of relay D to one end of a winding of relay E, but relay E does not operate because it is short-circuited by ground from the local segment TR2. When the brush passes from local segment TRZ, the short-circuiting ground on the winding of relay E is removed permitting this relay to operate in series with relay D. The circuit is from ground on break cont-act a of relay F, make contact w of relay D, winding of relay E and winding of relay D to battery. The operation of relay E closes a circuit from ground through make contact b of relay E to the winding of relay F operating it. The same ground through make contact 0 of relay D, holds relays D and E operated and locked in series.

It should be noted that relays D, E and F are mutually interconnected, and are controlled and operated, in the same manner as relays A, B and C. Relays A, B and C are controlled by local seg ment TRI, while relays D, E and F are controlled in an identical manner by local segment TF2. The only exception occurs during the first rotation of the distributor when all relays are normal; in this case since relays A, B and C' are all normal there is no path for the operation of relays D, E and F when the local brush passes for the first time over local segment TRZ.

During the time when the local brush is passing over segment TRl on its second rotation, and while the second letter is being received and stored in code storage relay group No. 2, ground is connected from this segment through the make contact a of relay B to one end of a winding of relay B, and simultaneously to one end of a winding of relay A. This ground shortcircuits the winding of relay A which has been holding this relay locked, and relay A releases, but relay B is held operated by the same ground because it has a direct battery connection on the other end of the same winding. As the brush leaves segment TR! the holding ground is removed irom the winding of relay B, which reor the relays in group No. l.

leases. The release of relay B causes therelease of relay C, which had been held operated by a ground through the make contact I) of relay B.

As the local brush passes over the MARK segment of the local ring on the second rotation ground is connected from the local solid ring through the MARK segment, through normal contact 0 of relay A, thence through the break" contact of relay 6 to the armatures b of the other relays in code storage relay group No. 2. This operation is analogous to that which took place at the same point of the first rotation except that the marking ground was, in the first case, connected to the corresponding armatures The marking ground will now have a path, or paths, provided through make contacts 12 of operated relays in group No. 2, thence through operated contacts of relay E and make contacts a. of relay C'-2, Fig. 2, and normal contacts a of relay C-4, into the second letter register relay group, Fig. 3, so that relays in this group will be operated as were the relays in the first letter register relay group during the first rotation of the distributor brushes.

When reception of the third letter begins a sequence of operations similar to those just described again occurs, and relay operations take place similar to those which occurred during reception of the first letter; the third letter being stored in code storage relay group No. 1 to which circuits have previously been closed by the release of relay B, as above described. During this third rotation, the passage of the local brush over segment RLS causes the operation of relay RL-Z which releases the relays in code storage relay group No. 2, which had been operated during the second rotation, and also closes a circuit through a make contact I) of relay 1), line H, break contact 0 of relay BK, Fig. 2, and operated contact I) of relay C2, and normal contact I) of relay C4 to operate relay 0-3. When the local brush leaves segment RLS relay C-fl operates in series with relay 0-4 over make contact a of relay C 3 and break contact b of relay SH, Fig. 1, transferring the leads from the contacts of relay E to the third letter register relay group through the normal contacts a of relay C6.

The above described series of operations now are repeated for each letter received. Five letter register relay groups have been shown on the drawings, so that in the system, as here shown and described, a maximum of five letter characters may. be successively received and stored, this number being sufiicient to comply with the requirements for identifying individually the majority of stock symbols used on the standard stock ticker system. More letter register relay groups could be provided, if desired, but have not been considered necessary for the purpose of disclosure. The majority of stocks have assigned to them abbreviations consisting of one, two or three letters, with or without the sufiix Pr denoting preferred. Some stocks have a suifix .A or .B to distinguish between two issues ofthe same corporation; for example, Reynolds Tobacco Company has listed on the New York Stock Exchange an A and a B issue which appear on the ticker tape as RJR.A and RJRB, respectively. This circuit is equipped to receive and store in the fourth and fifth letter register relay groups the combinations .A and .B. The second, third and fourth letter register relay groups are also equipped to receive and store the preferred symbol Pr. It follows, therefore, that this system is arranged to receive and store stock abbreviations of the following general classifications:

Classification Example Single letter stocks R Single letter preferred stocks R Pr Two letter stocks IT Two letter preferred stocks IT Pr Three letter stocks AYY Three letter preferred stocks AYY Pr Single letter A or B stocks RA; R.B. Two letter A or B stocks GMA; GM.B Three letter A or B stocks RJRA; RJRB In the above tabulation each character shown under the heading Example is a separately transmitted character except the preferred designation Pr which is transmitted, stored and printed as a single character. In operation, this circuit will receive and store one character in each letter register relay group in order, beginning with the first letter register relay group and proceeding in sequence as long as letter characters are being received.

Figures differ from letters in the ticker code by having always associated with them the sixth pulse; i. e., every figure character has a marking pulse for the sixth unit of its code. Therefore, when a figure character is received, and stored in one of the code storage relay groups, the relay 6 or B will be operated and locked. Then, when the local brush next passes over the segment MARK, ground will be connected from the solid local ring and MARK segment, across contact 0 of relay A, to the armature b of relay 6 or 6', as previously described, depending upon whether relay A is operated or unoperated at the time, and thence through the operated contact b of relay 6 or t, a contact 8 of relay E to the winding of relay SH which operates and locks to ground on a break contact of relay SI-IR. The sixth pulse is usually called the shift impulse since it operates the ticker mechanism in such a manner as to shift the printing mechanism from the upper case to the lower case half of the ticker type wheel. The functions performed by the operation of relay SH will be described in a following paragraph.

Each letter register relay group, Figs. 3 and l, contains six relays with contacts wired according to the conventional fan circuit, providing thirty-two individual outgoing leads, only one of which will be energized through the GI lead to the group, depending upon the combination of operated relays. The feed wire to the fan circuit enters the group over lead GI (l) (denoting ground-in), and the outgoing Wires of the fan circuit terminate on the windings of the letter stock relays. The letter stock relays associated with the first letter relay group are designated first letter stock relays, and the other sets of letter stock relays are designated in an analogous manner. The letter stock relays are provided with two make contacts a and h each; of these contact a is a locking contact associated with a locking lead common to all the relays, the other terminates on a terminal individual to the relay and located on a terminal, or cross-connection, block.

Upon the operation of relay RIr-i, described above, ground was connected from a break contact b of relay BK through the make contact I) of relay RLl and break contact 0 of relay 0-2, to lead GI (1) of the. first letter register relay group, thence through the fan circuit and to the winding of one of the first letter stock relays corresponding to the operated combination of relays in the first letter register relay group. The first letter stock relay, upon operating, locks over the common locking lead cl to ground through a break contact a of relay LRR, Fig. 2. In a similar manner the operation of relay RL-Z connects ground to lead G1 (2) of the second letter register relay group causing the operation of a second letter stock relay.

After each letter is received, the succeeding operations of relays RL-l and RL2 connect ground to the lead GI of the corresponding letter register relay groups and cause the operation of corresponding letter stock relays.

Upon the reception of the first figure character, which, as before mentioned, may occur following a reception of one, two or more letter characters, the relay SH operates as previously described. The operation of this relay opens the locking circuits to the letter register relay groups, releasing all operated relays in these groups; also, by the removal of ground from the common locking circuit prepares for the release of all operated counting relays. The latter relays, however, remain locked to ground on the break contact 0 of relay PC-l.

The letter stock relays and terminal cross-connecting blocks form a translator in which by means of interchangeable cross-connections there may be selected a relay associated with any desired stock. There may be any desired number of these stock relays. Assume, the reception of the abbreviation for stock A-in this case the letter A will have been received and stored in the first letter register relay group. The following character will be a figure character having the sixth pulse marking, which will result in the operation of relay SH. First letter stock relay A will be operated and ground placed on terminal A of the first letter stock relay terminal group. This terminal is cross-connected to one end of the winding of stock relay A, and the other end of the winding of this stock relay is connected to the blank terminal BL of the second letter stock relay terminal group. The armature of stock relay A is cross-connected to the blank terminal of the third letter relay group. In this case no letters are received or stored in the second and third letter relay groups, so that all relays in these two groups will be normal and ground connected to the GI leads of these groups will cause the operation of relays BL of the second and third letter stock relays. This ground is connected to the GI leads GI (2) and GI (3) through the break contacts 0 of relays C3 and 6-5 respectively, and make contacts of relay BK, which operates in parallel with relay SH.

As a result of the above series of operations stock relay A will be operated, and ground will be connected through its make contact to a jack associated with it and correspondingly designated. If one of the series of plugs, shown on Fig. 4, has been inserted in this jack the ground will be extended to the winding of relay PC-l, Fig. 2, which will operate and at its make contact a lock to ground on the break contact a of relay SHR. The operation of relay PCI at its contact 19 opens the circuit to the ticker printing control magnets, Phil and PMZ, which release, thus preventing the printing of the following figure characters. The operation of relay PC-l at its contact c also removes ground from the locking lead of the counting relays, C-l

C--2, etc., permitting them to release. Ground through make contact of relay PC--| operates relay PC-2, which, in turnover its operated contact I) operates relay LRR. The operation of relay LRR at its break contact a disconnects ground from the common locking lead for the letter storage relays, which release, removes ground at its make contact 22 from the armatures a of relay BK, and at its contact creconnects ground to the locking lead of the letter register relay groups. 1

As long as figure characters continue to be transmitted over theticker system, and, to be received by this circuit, relays PCI PC2, LRR, SH and BK remain operated, andthe ticker printing control magnets on theassociatedtickers remain unoperated. As each character is received the distributor'brushes make one rotation, and the character is stored in one of the code storage relay groups. Asbefore, relays A, B and C, also relays D, 'E and F, operate under control of segments of the local distributor ring, so that the successive received characters are stored in alternation in groups No. 1 and No. 2. Because, however, each figure character has its sixth pulse of marking polarity, relay 6 or 6' of the group will be operated, and therefore there will be no completed path for ground from the MARK segment of the distributor local ring for the operation of relays in the register relay groups. Neither will the counting relays, C-I, C-.2, etc., operate under this condition, since the ground circuit from segment RLS, which normally operates them, is held open at the break contact of relay BK.

When the next letter character is received (which may be after the reception of any number of figure characters) the 6 or 6 relay of the code storage relay group will not operate, since the sixth pulse of a letter character is never of marking polarity. Ground through the MARK segment will, therefore, operate relays in the first letter register relay group, simultaneously operating relay SHE. The operation of the letter relay permits the release of relays SH, BK, PC--l PC-Z and LRR. Grounds are thereby restored to the locking circuits of the various relays to permit them to lock when operated, and the printing control magnets on the tickers are re-operated. to permit printing of the letter characters. The translator circuit then functions again, as previously described, to translate the new stock abbreviation.

The relay BK, which operates in parallel with relay SH is used for connecting ground to the GI leads of the letter register relay groups to insure translation of Blanks in the case of one and two letter stocks. Thus if stock A is received, the letter A is received, stored and transferred to the first letter register group. It will not be possible however, to translate; i. e., to operate the stock .relay A until letter storage relays for the second-and third letters have been operated. Since no second or third letters will be received in this case, the blank relays BL must be operated locally, and this is accomplished by a ground, through the break contact I) of relay LRR,make contacts a in parallel of relay BK, break contacts 0 of relays 0-3 and C5, to the GI leads of the second and third letter register relay groups, thence through the fan circuits of these groups to the corresponding BL relays, it being kept in mind that all relays of these groups will be normal. In the case of stocks: of three or more letter characters, the BK relay performs no useful function in translation, since the circuits through its make contacts are opened at the break contacts 0 of the operated counting relays.

Relay PC2 is used, in connection with the slow-operate feature of relay LRR, to delay the removal of locking ground from the relays of the letter storage groups; this is to prevent the premature release of relay PC-l.

Relay PR. l operates over thePr lead of register relaygroup 4 or 5, and will therefore beoperated when a three letter or four letter abbreviation followed by Pr is received. In translation, its function is similar to the other relays of'the letter storage groups.

Relays .A and .B operate over circuits made through contacts of relays and relays A and B respectively, and at their contacts complete the circuit for the relay PC -I over a contact of the stock designation relay such as AIVLB; Z.A and XZZA, Fig.3.

Relay SHR, in operating, closes a path through its make contacts b for operating the relays of the counting chain. This is necessary, following the reception of characters to be deleted, because the operated BK relay holds open the normal operating circuit to the counting relays.

Fig. 2 shows three printing tickers A, B and C, of which A and B are controlled to print the prices of the same stocks. These tickers may be located in different parts of the same office or building or in different subscribers offices in the same or different buildings. If desired, the subscribers equipment may include two or more printing tickers such as A and C which are controlled by different PC-l relays which in turn,

as indicated in Fig, 4, are controlled to print the prices of different stocks. If desired, the printing ticker A may be controlled to print the prices of any number or all of the oil stocks and the printing ticker .C may be controlled to print the prices of any number or'all of the motor stocks. Any desired division of stocks may be made.

While the invention. has been described with particularity with reference to the preferred embodiment disclosed, it is obvious that other embodiments may be apparent to those skilled in this art, and it is to be understood that words of description imported from the specification into the claims are not to be considered as words of limitation and that the claims are not to be limited except as necessitated by the prior art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of classifying information concerning items on a plurality of signal-controlled recorders which normally are operative to legibly record both the designation and characteristics of all items, which consists in selectively controlling said recorders to record the designation of all items and prevent recording of the characteristics concerning an item on any one or more of said plurality of recorders.

2. The method of classifying received information in regard to a plurality of items, which consists in automatically controlling printing devices to omit printing of certain of said information concerning each item as determined jointly by a character or a combination of characters designating each item of information and a characteristic of the remainder of said information.

3. The method of making a record of designation and price information concerning certain of a plurality of items, which consists in controlling a record making device by impulses characteristic of each of a plurality of characters designating the remainder of said items, to print the designation information and omit the printing of the said price information concerning such remainder of the items.

4. The method of deleting price information concerning a plurality of items, which consists in controlling a printing mechanism as determined by the characters designating the items, to print the item designation information and omit printing of said price information of said items.

5. The method of classifying information concerning items on signal-controlled recorders which consists in controlling each of a plurality of recorders always operative to record the designation of all items in legible form, to selectively omit recording of the remaining characteristics concerning any item.

6. In a system of the character described, the combination with a receiving mechanism normally operative to print the designations comprising one or more characters of all items and to print all information concerning said items received, and means controlled by each character of the designation of certain itemsreceived and printed, for preventing the printing of the remaining information concerning each of said certain items.

7. In a system of the character described, the combination with a printing ticker responsive to a plurality of series of impulses for printing the designation of an item and for printing information concerning said item, of means operable under control of impulses representing the designation of a certain item and which may comprise a plurality of characters for printing said designation of the item and preventing the printing of the remaining information concerning the item designated.

8. The combination with a printer controlled by code signals and a shift signal, of means for disabling said printer, and a deleting mechanism responsive to said code signals and including means responsive to a shift signal for operating said disabling means under control of said code signals received.

9. The combination with a printer controlled by signals characteristic of letters and numbers and a shift signal, of means for disabling said printer, and a deleting mechanism responsive to letter signals and to a shift signal for operating said disabling means to prevent the printing of numerals.

10. The combination with a printer responsive to letter and numeral code signals and a shift signal, of means for disabling said printer, and a deleting mechanism including means responsive to one or two letter code signals and a shift signal for rendering said disabling means operative under control of the second mentioned means to prevent the printing of numerals.

11. The combination with a printer controlled by letter and numeral code signals and a shift signal, of means for disabling said printer, a deleting mechanism responsive to a plurality of letter code signals for rendering said disabling means operative, and means controlled by a shift signal for preventing numeral code signals from controlling said deleting mechanism.

12. The combination with a printer controlled by letter and numeral code signals and a shift signal, of means for disabling the printer, means under control of letter code signals for rendering said disabling means operative, means under control of the shift signal for preventing said second mentioned means from acting responsively to numeral codes received, and means under control of letter code signals received subsequently to numeral code signals received for rendering said disabling means ineffective and for rendering said second means responsive to a control by said letter code signals.

13. The combination with a printer controlled by letter and numeral code signals, of means for disabling said printer, and a deleting mecha nism responsive to letter code signals received and to a special signal included in said numerical code signals for causing said disabling means to function to prevent the printer from printing numerals corresponding to subsequently received numeral codes.

14. In a system of the character described, the combination with a receiving mechanism responsive to signals over an incoming line and normally operable to receive designations comprising one or more characters of all items and to post the information concerning said items received, of a deleting mechanism jointly controlled by each character of the designation of selected items and a signal included in the information regarding said selected items for preventing the mechanism from posting the information concerning each such item during the cycle of operation of the posting mechanism, and means for causing the posting mechanism to post information concerning desired items, said lastnamed means operating to post the designations of said desired items concurrently with the reception of the signals relating to said items.

15. The combination with a plurality of printers controlled to print item designation and price information as to items by signals received over a common line, of mechanism controlled by signals corresponding to the items for controlling said printers to print said item designation information and prevent printing said price information concerning each of said items, and readily changeable cross-connections between said printers and said controlling means whereby the control over each of the printers may be readily varied to cause said price information as to any desired items to be printed on any printer and said price information as to other items to be printed on all of the printers.

16. In a system of the character described, the combination with an impulse controlled printing ticker mechanism normally operative to print the designation and prices of all the stocks in reference to which information is received, of a deleting. mechanism for controlling the operation of the printing mechanism for preventing the printing of the prices of certain stocks, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, a pair of alternately operable storage relays which are operated by impulses over said receiving distributor, a plurality of stock designation character storing relays controlled by said storage relays, a plurality of letter stock relays controlled by said character storing relays, a circuit closed under control of one or more letter stock relays, and means adapted to be operated over said circuit for disabling the printing mechanism. 7

1'7. In a system of the character described, the combination with a printing ticker mechanism normally operative to print the designation and prices of all the stocks in reference to which information is received, of a deleting mechanism for controlling the operation of the printing mechanism for preventing the printing of prices of any desired stocks, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, a pair of alternately operable storage relays which are operated by impulses over said receiving distributor, a plurality of stock designation character storing relays, a plurality of letter stock relays, circuits selectively closed under control of one or more letter stock relays, and means in said circuit for disabling the printing mechanism, each group of storage relays including an additional relay operable as the price information is received for causing said printing controlling means to function.

18. In a system of the character described, the

combination with a printing ticker mechanism normally operative to print the designation and prices of all the stocks in reference to which information is received, of a deleting mechanism for controlling the operation of the printing mechanism for preventing the printing of prices of any desired stock, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, a pair of alternately operable storage relay groups which are operated by impulses over said receiving distributor, a plurality of stock designation char acter storing relays, a plurality of letter stock relays, a circuit adapted to be made by certain letter stock relays, and means in said circuit for disabling the printing mechanism, each group of storage relays including an additional relay operable as the price is received for causing said printing controlling means to function, said additional relay in each of said storage relay groups operating also to prevent further control of the printing mechanism after the first digit of the price has been received.

19. In a system of the character described, the combination with a printing ticker responsive to impulses over an incoming line and normally operable to print all the information received as to the stock designation and price, of a deleting mechanism also controlled by the impulses received over said line and including mechanism responsive to impulses designating one character or a plurality of characters for preparing a circuit to control the printing mechanism of said printing ticker, and means also included in said mechanism responsive to impulses characteristic of the price for causing said deleting mechanism to function to prevent the printing of the price information.

20. In a system of the character described, the combination with a printing ticker responsive to impulses over an incoming line and normally operable to print all the information received as to designations and prices of stocks, of a deleting mechanism for preventing the printer from printing the prices of any desired stock, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, a pair of alternately operable code storage relay groups operated under control of said receiving distributor, a plurality of groups of decoding storage relays, and means under control of the distributor for transferring a set-up contained in the first oneof said code storage relay groups operated into the first of said groups of decoding storage relays and operable to suecessively transfer successive set-ups in said code storage relay groups to said decoding storage groups, said means comprising a counting relay mechanism operable under control of said distributor.

21. In a system of the character described, the combination with a printing ticker responsive to pulses over an incoming line and normally operable to print all the information received as to the stock designations and prices of stocks, of a deleting mechanism for preventing the printer from printing the prices of any desired stock, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, two groups of code storage relays, switching mechanisms under control of said distributor for alternately connecting said groups of code storage relays to the distributor, a larger plurality of code storage decoding relays, a counting chain, means for connecting operated relays in the code storage groups through said counting chain to operate code storage decoding relay groups in succession, a relay included in each of said groups of code storage relays operated over said distributor by a shift pulse, a shift relay operated from said distributor under control of a relay operated by a shift pulse, means controlled by said shift relay to release said operated counting relays to prevent further counting and to release said decoding relays, a plurality of stock relays corresponding in number to the number of stocks received and operated under control of said decoding relays, and means under control of said stock relays for preventing printing the price of the corresponding stock.

22. In a system of the character described, the combination with aprinting ticker responsive-to pulses over an incoming line and normally operable to print all the information received as to the designations and prices of stocks, of a deleting mechanism for preventing the printer from printing the prices of any desired stock, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, two groups of code storage relays, switching mechanism under control of said distributor for alternately connecting said groups of code storage relays to the distributor, a plurality of code storage decoding relays, a counting chain, means for connecting operated relays in the code storage groups through said counting chain to operate the code storage decoding relay groups in succession, a relay included in each of said groups of code storage relays operated over said distributor by a shift pulse, a shift relay operated from said distributor under control of a relay operated by a shift pulse, means controlled by said shift relay to release said operated counting relays and to prevent further counting and to release said decoding relays, a plurality of stock relays corresponding in number to the number of stocks received and operated under control of said decoding relays, means under control of said stock relays for preventing printing the price of the corresponding stock, and means also under control of said shift relay for filling blanks in certain of said groups of code storage decoding relays for energizing stock relays corresponding to one or two letter stocks.

23. In a system of the character described, the combination with a printing ticker responsive to pulses over an incoming line and normally operable to print all the information received as to the designations and prices of stocks, of a deleting mechanism for preventing the printer from printing the prices of any desired stock, said deleting mechanism including a receiving distributor, two groups of code storage relays, switching mechanism under control of said distributor for alternately connecting said groups of code storage relays to the distributor, a plurality of code storage decoding relays, a counting chain, means for connecting operated relays in the code storage groups through said counting chain to operate the code storage decoding relay groups in succession, a reunder control of said shift relay for filling blanks in certain of said groups of code storage decoding relays for energizing stock relays corresponding to one or two letter stocks, and means under the control of the distributor and the relays in said code storage relay groups responsive to shift pulses, for releasing said shift relay and conditioning said mechanism to register and decode stock designation information.

RAYMOND M. HICKS.

CHARLES S. WHITNEY. 

